Feeding structure for tobacco cutting means



D. w. MOLINS Aug. 15, 19 7 FEEDING STRUCTURE FOR TOBACCO CUTTING MEANS Filed Feb. 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ulko m, ,g gmumm Aug. '15, 1967' 0.. w. MOLJNS FEEDING'STRUCTURE FOR TOBACCO CUTTING MEANS 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 15,1967 D. w. MOLINS 3,335,730

I FEEDING STRUCTURE FOR TOBACCO CUTTING MEANS Filed Feb. 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lav w/ikm Dam-ML maul M '3 km M wummmw Afig. 15, 1967 D. w. MOLINS FEEDING STRUCTURE FOR TOBACCO CUTTING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 16, 1965 Imuikv mmmk mm mall) warm, uwwu v United States Patent G 3,335,730 STRUCTURE FOR TOBACCO CUTTING MEANS Desmond Walter Molins, London, England, assignor to The Molins Organisation Limited, London, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Feb. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 432,975 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 21, 1964, 7,466/ 64 7 Claims. (Cl. 131-136) This invention relates to improvements concerning tobacco cutting machines, and in particular to feeding arrangements thereto.

To obtain optimum cutting conditions, i.e. to achieve cut tobacco in which the width of each strand is regular and in which there is a minimum amount of breakage of the strands, it has generally been found necessary to cut the tobacco at a predetermined moisture content. This moisture content varies according to whether the tobacco is in lamina form or in the form of stems. In both cases, however, the moisture content for ideal cutting conditions is considerably higher than that required for the make-up of the cut tobacco into cigarettes in a continuous rod cigarette-making machine. Consequently, between cutting and making it is necessary to dry the tobacco with a subsequent danger of degradation. In order to eliminate the drying stage between cutting and making, means are proposed for cutting the tobacco at a moisture content at which it can be used in a cigarette-making machine. This can be achieved by increasing the heat of the tobacco as disclosed in copending US. patent application Ser. No. 425,547, filed Jan. 14, 1965.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide means for heating or rendering tobacco sufiiciently pliable for cutting without substantially increasing its moisture content over that required for making the cut tobacco into smoking articles such as cigarettes.

According to the present invention there is provided in FEEDING a tobacco cutting machine, tobacco feeding apparatus comprising a mouthpiece, a first feeding band disposed in a generally vertical plane, a second feeding band cooperating with the first band to force tobacco through the mouthpiece and heating means to increase the heat of the tobacco so that it is cut against the mouthpiece at a desired temperature.

The heating means may comprise ducting which together with part of the tobacco being fed defines a closed circuit within which gas can be circulated. There may be provided in the closed circuit a heater for heating the gas, gas circulating means, perforations through which the gas can pass into and out of contact with the tobacco, and gas humidifying means. Insulating means may be provided to retain heat transferred from the gas to the tobacco.

A cutting machine which is part of a manufacturing process having a steady flow line should be adaptable to cut constant quantities of tobacco per unit of time. It has in the past been found possible to achieve this by feeding the tobacco to be out onto a feed band moving in a generally horizontal plane. The horizontally moving tobacco is then compressed between the feed band and a further feed band which is arranged to converge on to the first band. In British patent application No. 6,733/ 64 there is disclosed a tobacco cutting machine in which the tobacco is fed vertically between two feed hands into the mouthpiece of the machine. This arrangement is such tha t an even feed of tobacco cannot readily be achieved.

It is consequently a further object of the invention to provide feeding apparatus for a cutting machine in which the feed bands are disposed vertically above the mouthpiece in such a way that a regular output of cut tobacco can be obtained.

3,335,730 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 ice Further according to the invention there is provided in a tobacco cutting machine, tobacco feeding apparatus comprising a mouthpiece, a first feeding band disposed in a generally vertical plane, cooperating with the first band a second feed band having a substantially horizontal run on which tobacco is fed, guiding means located above the first band to assist directing the tobacco from the horizontal run of the second hand to a generally vertical direction of feed into the mouthpiece and heating means so that the tobacco is out against the mouthpiece at a desired temperature.

The second hand may pass around a roller so as to change its direction from the horizontal run to a generally vertical run, while the guiding means may comprise two driven rolls disposed so that their cylindrical surfaces are in contact with the tobacco being fed. The two rolls may be provided with circumferential recesses so as to intermesh.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a section through part of a tobacco cutting machine showing the feeding arrangements.

FIGURE 2 is a section along the lines IIII of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic representation of part of the apparatus of the tobacco cutting machine.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a further embodiment of feeding arrangements for a tobacco cutting machine.

Referring to the drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts and, in particular to FIGURE 1, there is shown in a tobacco cutting machine feed bands 1 and 2. The feed band 1 is driven by means of a roller 3 keyed to a shaft 4. The band 1 returns about an idler roller 5 whilst the direction of rotation is as shown by the arrow 6. The band 2 is driven by a roller 7 keyed to a shaft 8. The band 2 passes around two idlers 9 and 10 which are arranged so that there is a horizontal run 11 for this band which is driven in the direction of arrow 12.

13 is a mouthpiece through which tobacco is forced by the feed bands 1 and 2 to emerge on the other side where it is cut by knives 14 carried on a rotating drum 15.

Tobacco is supplied from a conveyor 16 to the horizontal run 11 of the feed band 2 over a bridge 17.

Abutting the sides of the feed band 2 are side plates 18 and 19, see FIGURE 2, having their faces provided with perforations 20. Backing on to the side plates 18 and 19 are chambers 21 and 22 respectively. Further chambers 23 and 24 are positioned as shown in FIGURES l and 3 with perforated plates 25 and 26 abutting the tobacco carried on the conveyor 16 and the feed band 2.

Positioned above the feed band 1 are two rolls 27 and 28. As can best been seen in FIGURE 2 the rolls 27 and 28 are rotatable about hollow shafts 29 and 30 respectively. The rolls 27 and 28 are hollow and are provided with recesses 31 which are drilled with a series of holes 32. The shafts 29 and 30 are also provided with holes 33 and are driven by pinions 34 and 35 respectively.

In FIGURE 3 a gas supply unit 36 shown diagrammatically is adapted to deliver air, water vapour or steam or any combination of them along a delivery pipe 37 which divides at its end into pipes 38 and 39 feeding the rolls 27 and 28 respectively and which has a branch pipe 40 feeding the chambers 21 and 22. The chambers 23 and 24 are connected by means of a return duct 41 and a branch duct 42 back to the supply unit 36. The supply unit 36 is also provided with a heater which is not shown. Thus the cutting machine feed apparatus can be supplied through the rolls 27 and 28 and the chambers 21 and 22 with an air/Water vapour mixture of required temperature and moisture content directed on to the tobacco being fed therethrough. Controls of known type are included for regulating the quantity of gas flow, temperature and moisture content but are not shown.

To preserve the heat added to the tobacco from the air/water vapour mixture insulating plates are added. Of these a top plate 43, front plate 44 and a rear plate 45 are shown shrouding in the rolls 27 and 28. Similarly a side plate 46 is shown in FIGURE 1. Other plates to complete the closing in and thus the insulation of the apparatus are provided but are not shown.

The feed bands 1 and 2 may be maintained at the required temperature by means of heaters 48 and 49 fitted to their return runs.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. A temperature and moisture content considered suitable for the quantity and quality of the tobacco being fed by the conveyor 16 is selected for the quantity chosen of the air/water vapour mixture delivered by the supply unit. The quantity of tobacco delivered by the conveyor 16 is similarly chosen and controlled by means of proven ability. As the tobacco is fed forward over the bridge 17 a carpet forms on the feed band 2 and into this carpet the air/ water vapour mixture impinges from the holes 32 in the rolls 27 and 28 and from the holes 20 in the side plates 18 and 19. The air/water vapour mixture yields up part of its heat and part of its moisture to the tobacco and the expended mixture is sucked back through the holes in the perforated plates 25 and 26 to be returned to the supply unit 36 where it is reheated and reconditioned. The heat and moisture in the tobacco is retained by the insulating plates such as those shown by the reference numbers 4346 and by the heaters 48 and 49' until after the tobacco passes through the mouthpiece 13 against which it is cut by the knives 14. This retention of heat and moisture allows the tobacco to remain supple and soft and thus minimises any tendency for the action of the knives to cause undesirable breakage.

As the carpet of tobacco changes its direction of movement from a horizontal one on the run 11 to a substantially vertical movement between the vertical runs of the feed bands 1 and 2 it is guided by rolls 27 and 28 which are arranged to have the same peripheral speed. This peripheral speed is the same and is in the same direction as the movement of the top of the tobacco carpet as it changes direction. Thus the rolls 27 and 28 help to guide the tobacco into its vertical movement and to prevent any possibility of falling which would result in loss of control and, of course, in the cutting machine having an irregular output.

A further embodiment is shown in FIGURE 4 in which like numbers refer to like parts. 1 and 2 are feed bands of which 1 is driven by means of a roller 3 keyed to a shaft 4. The band 1 returns about an idler roller whilst the direction of rotation is as shown by the arrow 6. The band 2 is driven by a roller 7 keyed to a shaft 8. The band 2 passes around two idlers 9 and which are arranged so that there is a horizontal run 11 for this band.

Abutting the sides of the bands 1 and 2 are two ducts 112 and 113. The duct 112 is an inlet duct while 113 represents a return duct. The sides of both ducts 112 and 113 abutting the bands 1 and 2 are provided with small perforations 114 through which a gas can diffuse. Both ducts 112 and 113 are shaped so that the perforated portion abuts part of the horizontal run 11 of the bands 1 and 2 and part of the vertical or near vertical run between the bands 1 and 2. Fixed near the top of the duct 112 is a hinge pin 115 whilst a similar hinge pin 116 is fixed to the return duct 113. Pivoting on the hinge pins 115 and 116 is a plate 117. Associated with the pin 116 is a transducer 129 of known design which is capable of transmitting a signal according to the position of the plate 117 on the pin 116.

In FIGURE 4 the ends of the ducts 112 and 113 are shown broken off at 118 and 119 respectively. Connecting the ends 118 and 119 is a chain line 130 passing through diagrammatically shown boxes 120, 121, 122 and 123. The box 120 represents a fan; 121 is a humidity measuring device; 122 is a humidity controller; while 123 is a combined thermostat and heater. The direction of circulation of the gases is indicated by arrow 124. A line 125 is shown entering the fan 120 and is intended to indicate the entry of make-up air. A water line 126 is shown connected to the humidity controller 122.

Side plates 127 and 128 enclose the space between the sides of the feed bands 1 and 2 and between the bottom of the ducts 1'12 and 113 and the rollers 4 and 7. Immediately abutting the rollers 4 and 7 is the mouthpiece of the cutting machine.

In operation the apparatus works as follows. Tobacco is showered on the horizontal run 11 on which it forms a carpet. The plate 117 rests upon the carpet and pivoting about the pins 115 and 116. Thus the transducer 129, which is connected to the tobacco showering apparatus, is capable of varying the quantity of tobacco being showered according to the height of the carpet.

The sides of the ducts 112. and 113 close in the space between the plate 117 and the left hand end of the horizontal run 11 of the feed band 2. Since the ducts 112 and 113 are connected bythe line a closed system is formed in which the gases present are circulated by the fan 120 in the direction of the arrow 124. By setting the humidity measuring device 121 and the thermostat of 123 to desired values, the humidity controller 122 and the heater of 123 will operate to maintain the humidity and heat of the gases (air and water vapour) at the desired values. Thus gases will be projected through the holes 114 of the duct 112 into the tobacco carpet passing alongside and will be sucked in through the holes 114 of the duct 113 to complete the circuit.

As the tobacco enters the zone through which the gases pass, its temperature will rise whilst water vapour will condense on its surface. The time the tobacco is passing adjacent to the ducts 112 and 113 is sufiicient to raise its temperature to the optimum temperature required for cutting and also to allow the condensed vapour on its surface to be absorbed. As soon as the tobacco passes out of the zone between the ducts 112 and 113, any heat loss is minimised by the side plates 127 and 128 which are made of insulating material.

By selecting suitable values for the temperature and humidity of the air and water vapour mixture passing around the closed system it is possible to ensure that equilibrium conditions are achieved so that the temperature and moisture content of any tobacco temporarily at rest between th? ducts 112 and 113 does not exceed a predetermined va ue.

The transducer 129 can be linked to a variable speed control to the fan 120 so that an increase or decrease in the quantity of tobacco being fed will be reflected by a similar increase or decrease in the quantity of heat and of moisture being circulated to the tobacco.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tobacco cutting machine, a tobacco feeding apparatus including an upper tobacco receiving end, a lower tobacco discharge end, and a mouthpiece adjacent the discharge end, said feeding apparatus comprising a first generally vertically disposed feeding band, a second feeding band adjacent the first band and cooperating therewith to force tobacco between the feeding bands to said mouthpiece, means to drive said feeding bands, heat mg means adjacent said upper tobacco receiving end, and a cutter adjacent said discharge end, whereby tobacco is fed along a path passing said tobacco receiving end where it is heated and proceeds between said feeding bands to the mouthpiece where it is cut.

2. A tobacco cutting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises at least two rotatably driven rolls positioned adjacent said path, said rolls being hollow and the cylindrical surfaces thereof being perforated, whereby heated gas may be conveyed through said rolls to said tobacco.

3. A tobacco cutting machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rolls are disposed so that their cylindrical surf-aces are in contact with the tobacco being fed and serve as guide means to assist the conveying of said tobacco along said path.

4. A tobacco cutting machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for depositing tobacco on said tobacco feeding apparatus and a plate pivotally mounted adjacent said path, said plate being operatively connected to said depositing means and being responsive to changes in the level of tobacco along said path, whereby the quantity of tobacco deposited on said tobacco feeding apparatus may be controlled.

5. A tobacco cutting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the path of said tobacco is enclosed and said heating means comprises delivery and return ducting, said enclosed path and ducting defining a closed circuit within which gas can be circulated.

6. A tobacco cutting machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein the closed circuit of said heating means comprises a heater for controlling the temperature of said 6 gas and circulating means for circulating said gas through said closed circuit.

7. A tobacco cutting machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein the closed circuit of said heating means further comprises humidifying means for controlling the moisture content of said gas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 635,076 10/1899 Perkins 131-146 1,757,477 5/1930 Rosenhoch 131--136 2,121,370 6/1938 Touton 131-135 2,151,527 3/1939 Podrnore 131-136 2,340,914 2/1944 Whitaker 13 1--21 2,535,692 12/1950 Molins et a1 131-145 2,769,446 11/1956 Dank 131-110 2,957,508 10/1960 Mason 1461 19 2,979,097 4/1961 Rogers 146-227 FOREIGN PATENTS 191,189 8/1957 Austria.

560,878 10/ 1932 Germany.

974,258 11/ 1960 Germany.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TOBACCO CUTTING MACHINE, A TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS INCLUDING AN UPPER TOBACCO RECEIVING END, A LOWER TOBACCO DISCHARGE END, AND A MOUTHPIECE ADJACENT THE DISCHARGE END, SAID FEEDING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FIRST GENERALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED FEEDING BAND, A SECOND FEEDING BAND ADJACENT THE FIRST BAND AND COOPERATING THEREWITH TO FORCE TOBACCO BETWEEN THE FEEDING BANDS TO SAID MOUTHPIECE, MEANS TO DRIVE SAID FEEDING BANDS, HEATING MEANS ADJACENT SAID UPPER TOBACCO RECEIVING END, AND A CUTTER ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGE END, WHEREBY TOBACCO IS FED ALONG A PATH PASSING SAID TOBACCO RECEIVING END WHERE IT IS HEATED AND PROCEEDS BETWEEN SAID FEEDING BANDS TO THE MOUTHPIECE WHERE IT IS CUT. 